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Topic Review (Newest First)

02-03-2013 12:10 AM

Timma

Picked up a few more today. Got some cherries and what I believe to be some Orange Sakura's. Things are looking pretty good!

The tank is a low tech setup and I want to keep it that way since its at work and I can spend too much time on it. I'm doing 30% water changes weekly so I'm hoping that will be good enough to keep things clean enough. Should I be doing water changes twice a week?

I can't honestly comment on if 30% WC is going to be sufficient. I'd guess so, but the only real way to tell is to do a nitrate test at the end of the week BEFORE a water change. If the nitrate levels is below 10 PPM, then a 30% WC should be fine. But if the nitrate levels is higher than 10 PPM, then a 30% WC probably wouldn't be enough.

Then right after the WC is completed, do a second nitrate test to see what the difference is. Do this for a couple of weeks and see where the nitrates are at. That's the only real way to know. I always aimed for nitrate levels of 5 PPM or less for CRS.

I'm also dosing a 1/4 ML of excel about 3 time a week. I've read horror stories about excel and shrimp, but I think that's a low enough dose for a 2 1/2 gallon. I want the plants to fill in a bit more.

I used to dose with Excel too, and the CRS bred, and the shrimplets did just fine. But I made sure to dose at half the recommended strength. When I did though, the shrimp went crazy, just like they did when they smelled food. But if shrimplets survive and breed, then I don't see why it would be a problem.

02-02-2013 12:12 AM

Timma

CRS for Fluval Spec

The tank is a low tech setup and I want to keep it that way since its at work and I can spend too much time on it. I'm doing 30% water changes weekly so I'm hoping that will be good enough to keep things clean enough. Should I be doing water changes twice a week? I'm also dosing a 1/4 ML of excel about 3 time a week. I've read horror stories about excel and shrimp, but I think that's a low enough dose for a 2 1/2 gallon. I want the plants to fill in a bit more.

01-31-2013 08:11 AM

genetao

I had 10 CRS in a 1.5 gallon tank sitting on my desk at work and they bred. Got as many as 30 juvies before I sold them to Ocean Aquarium in SF.

The key was keeping the water clean by using fast growing stem plants like hornwort with medium/high lighting. That kept the nitrates at near undetectable levels.

So my guess is in a 2.5 gal, you could keep like 40 adults, but you'd have to make sure that you either do water changes often, or keep fast growing stem plants.

01-31-2013 02:04 AM

Timma

Got 10 from the LFS yesterday. Unfortunately I had one die this morning, but the rest are doing great.

01-30-2013 06:55 AM

CookieM

Cool setup. I'm having hard time finding Fluval Spec 3. The light suppose to be better.

01-29-2013 11:31 PM

MABJ

CRS for Fluval Spec

I don't find mine is 2.5 gallons.. Far under actually. But that's not the question at hand.

I'd start with 8-10. That way you have room for juvies to grow if they choose to breed lol.

In reality, you can fit up to 20+ adults. But it isn't ideal.

01-29-2013 06:40 PM

speedie408

I'd say you'll be safe with 10 - 15.

01-29-2013 06:31 PM

Timma

CRS for Fluval Spec

I've got a 2.5 gallon Fluval Spec that I've had running for about 4 weeks. Water parameters are perfect now and I'm about to stock it with CRS. How many are safe with this size tank? Here's a pic of the tank below. This is a bit of an older pic now and the plants are starting to get a little bigger already. Thanks for any advice!